Tech Group Challenges Chinese Government’s Censoring Software Mandate

A lobbying group representing a handful of prominent technology companies, including Google and Yahoo, is rallying against the Chinese government's requirement that new computers sold in the quasi-communist country be preloaded with censoring software.

The Chinese government mandates that the filtering software, which not only blocks pornography but also political and social-activist content, be installed on all new PCs by July 1. Researchers say the software has some serious bugs that may leave users vulnerable to hacking attacks, while United States filtering software vendor Solid Oak claims a portion of its code was stolen by Chinese software engineers.

China represents a massive consumer market for American computer makers and Internet companies, so kudos to them for standing up for open information and free speech.

However … we must not forget the exact opposite stance these same companies took when they testified on Capitol Hill more than three years ago. There was plenty of hand-wringing when Google CEO Eric Schmidt and other tech chiefs decried China's insistence on censoring search results and access to certain sites. But ultimately, they chalked it up to "the cost of doing business."

How convenient.

So when a decision results in manufacturers being able to sell more stuff — i.e., holding their noses in compliance with China's censorship policies — it's an unfortunate "cost of doing business." But when the same policy requires an increase in the bottom line — i.e., installing the extra software — it's an abomination of free speech and freedom in general.

This lobbying group deserves our support for challenging the restriction of information, but when a company otherwise known for its high standards of social responsibility clicks out of both sides of its browser, it's important to hold them to that standard even when it cuts into the bottom line.